#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for September 1st – 7th.
  • I got sick this week and haven’t been doing much other than reading and resting since Thursday. I’m feeling mostly back to normal this morning.
  • Active Days: 0/5
  • Steps: 32,866
  • Miles: 13.19/15.34
  • Total Miles: 566.81/850
  • Zone Minutes: 28/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • Mrs. March by Virginia Feito
  • Waypoints by Sam Heughan
  • Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson
  • The Art of Frugal Hedonism by Annie Raser-Rowland

Finished:

  • The Best of Luck by Jason Mott
  • It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman
  • The Pram by Joe Hill
  • Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix
  • In Bloom by Paul Tremblay
  • The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King
  • Big Bad by Chandler Baker
  • BadAsstronauts by Grady Hendrix
  • Touching Darkness by Scott Westerfeld

Total pages read this week: 919

Total books read: 72 of 85

TBR: -18 (Goal is -36)

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril:

  • Peril of the Fiction – 2
  • Peril of the Listen – 0
  • Peril of the Short Story – 6
  • Peril of the Screen – 4 episodes of “Ghost Hunter” and 2 episodes of “Creeped Out”

I decided to kick off #RIP with several short stories I got for free through Amazon last year (I think that was last year…). I also tried out a couple of shows on Netflix, but I won’t be continuing either. I’ve queued up several episodes of the “Lore” podcast, but I’ve been so into listening to audiobooks that I haven’t gotten around to the podcasts yet. I’ve also put a couple of holds for books in at my local public library, which is so close to where I work I can walk over during one of my breaks to pick up or drop off any books as needed.

Speaking of public libraries, I will use mine more often over the coming months and into the next year. I’ll be leaving my job soon due to my mental and physical health, and though I plan to get a part-time job, I won’t have nearly as much spending money as I do now and will be cutting back on expenses as much as possible. I’ve added a donation form to the sidebar of this blog so I can afford to keep it going. I’ll be bringing back the #ShelfLove challenge next year, and will hopefully be able to get back into writing reviews, so if you enjoy reading my blog, please consider donating.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #167

Published on by Rachelle
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is up a couple of books to 1130. I finished several books this past week, but I also bought a few books.
This week’s books:

Dodge & Twist by Tony Lee – GO. I think I got this audiobook for free, and after reading the synopsis, I can’t see myself enjoying it.

The Essential Dogen ed. by Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt – KEEP.  Eihei Dogen wrote several volumes and this book is made up of selections from those much more lengthy writings as an introduction to him. 

The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith – KEEP. I’m skeptical about this one, only because I don’t understand why unfinished books would go to a library in Hell of all places. Why? I hope there’s a good explanation for this in the story.

Trouble on the Books by Essie Lang – KEEP. As all of you probably already know, I love cozy mysteries about libraries or bookstores. This one involves a bookstore. There are only three books in this series, and the most recent one came out in 2021, so I’m not sure if there will be any more, but I’m still going to give this one a shot.

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig – KEEP. I’ve got this book in my “Bad Day” box which is full of stuff to help me deal with days when my back is keeping me stuck in bed. I haven’t read this one yet, but I’m hoping it will help me when I do.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1129 books. I was wrong again about not getting rid of any books. I sincerely doubt I will be letting go of any books in the next post, though.

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril XIX

Published on by Rachelle2 Comments


The R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril challenge, otherwise known as R.I.P. takes place every September 1st through October 31st.


The purpose of the R.I.P. Challenge is to enjoy books that could be classified as Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, or Supernatural.


There are multiple levels of participation (Perils):

  • Peril of the Fiction – Read books of any length that fit the definition of R.I.P. literature.
  • Peril of the Short Story – Read short stories any time during the challenge.
  • Peril of the Real – Read any true tales of horror.
  • Peril of the Listen – Listen to RIP-related audiobooks, podcasts, and music.
  • Peril on the Screen – This is for those of us who like to watch suitably scary, eerie, mysterious, Gothic fare during this time of year. It may be something on the small screen or large.

This year, I’ll be doing Peril of the Fiction, Peril of the Short Story, Peril of the Listen, and Peril on the Screen. I’ve got a huge list of books on Goodreads for me to choose from for this event, the Something Wicked Fall challenge, the month-long FrightFall Readathon, and the 24-Hour Readathon happening in October.

Are you participating in #RIPXIX or reading any spooky reads over the next couple of months? Leave a comment!

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for August 25th – 31st.
  • I took it easy this week since I felt like I was still recovering from the concert and knew I would be busy this weekend.
  • Active Days: 1/5
  • Steps: 42,158
  • Miles: 17/15.34
  • Total Miles: 553.62/850
  • Zone Minutes: 37/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Touching Darkness by Scott Westerfeld
  • The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King

Finished:

  • Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
  • The First City by Joe Hart
  • Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

Total pages read this week: 1,142

Total books read: 63 of 80

TBR: -12 (Goal is -36)

This weekend my Boyfriend and I are celebrating our anniversary. It’s also the weekend that #BacktoHogwarts day falls on and the start of #RIP. So, I signed up for another readathon on Litsy, #ForTheLoveofBooks. While my goal is only to read as much as possible, I hope to finish most of my current reads. I want to start September fresh.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #166

Published on by Rachelle
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is down a book to 1128. I finished several books for #BoutofBooks, but I also bought a few books.
This week’s books:

Books for Living by Will Schwalbe – GO. I can’t believe I’m saying this about a book about books, but I’m no longer interested in reading this one.

A Pleasure to Burn by Ray Bradbury – KEEP. This is a collection of short stories all taking place in the world of Fahrenheit 451, probably my favorite Bradbury novel, though Something Wicked This Way Comes is a close second.

Christmas Present by Jodi Taylor – KEEP. I love “The Chronicles of St. Mary’s” series, and I’m looking forward to reading this short story during the holidays this year.

By Book or by Crook by Eva Gates – KEEP. I love cozy mysteries about libraries or bookstores, and this one involves a library. It’s also the first in a series with the 11th book having come out this year, so I know it’s popular. Yes, I know that’s not a guarantee that I’ll love it, but it does raise the chances quite a bit.

Watership Down by Richard Adams – KEEP. I’ve been told that this book is traumatizing, or at least it was to anyone expecting a cute story about bunnies. Since I already know it’s not that kind of book, I think I’ll be alright.
My want-to-read shelf is down to 1127 books. I didn’t think I would get rid of any books, and I was wrong. I wonder if I’ll be wrong about the books in the next post as well.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for August 18th – 24th.
  • I went to a concert on Friday night and that’s where most of my active minutes came from. I had a blast, and it was worth it, but my body still feels beat up. My Fitbit is saying I have a Readiness Score of 1 out of 100, so I’ll be resting again today.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 54,642
  • Miles: 22.08/15.34
  • Total Miles: 536.62/850
  • Zone Minutes: 182/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • A Mindful Year by Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan
  • Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
  • The First City by Joe Hart

DNF:

  • The Undays of Aralias Lyons by K.L. Horvath
  • Andrea Vernon and the Superhero-Industrial Complex by Alexander C. Kane

Finished:

  • A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke
  • The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
  • Starter Villain by John Scalzi
  • How to Twist a Dragon’s Tale by Cressida Cowell
  • Midlife Magic and Magnolias by Meredith Carlisle

Total pages read this week: 1,488

Total books read: 60 of 80

TBR: -13 (Goal is -36)

There are two days left of #BoutofBooks and I hope to finish two more books. That will get me nearly back on track to hitting my TBR goal because I bought more books. As much as I’ve read this week, I would have been ahead otherwise.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #165

Published on by Rachelle
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?
My shelf is still holding steady at 1129 books. I bought a couple of ebooks and an audiobook.
This week’s books:

The Search for the Red Dragon by James A. Owen – KEEP. I loved the first book in the “Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica” series, Here, There Be Dragons, so I’m keeping and reading this one.

Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi – KEEP. I bought this one a while ago, and let my boyfriend read it, despite not having read it myself. He really enjoyed it, so I’m keeping it and will hopefully read it during next year’s #SciFiSummer reading challenge.

Andrea Vernon and the Superhero Industrial Complex by Alexander C. Kane – KEEP. I’ll get around to this one eventually since I enjoyed the first book in the “Andrea Vernon” series enough to buy this one.

Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Betrayal by Lydia Sherrer – KEEP. I love this series!

Among Others by Jo Walton – KEEP. For some reason, I keep thinking this is literary fiction when it’s Fantasy. Perhaps it’s the cover. Regardless, I mostly want to read this book because the main character escapes her troubled life by reading SciFi and Fantasy.
My want-to-read shelf remains at 1129 books. I’m nearly halfway through 2021, when I became much more discerning about the books I bought, mostly because I had little spending money for much of that year. It will likely be several posts before I get rid of any books.